Bowie State University (2010)

Brief Description:

Established in 1865, Bowie State University is the oldest historically
black institution (HBI) of higher education in the state of Maryland. Also,
it is one of the oldest HBIs in the nation. The institution has evolved
from a normal school into a comprehensive university that offers a wide
array of undergraduate, graduate, and professional programs. Currently,
Bowie State University serves a diverse student population, providing
educational opportunities that will enable students to function in a
highly technological and interdependent world. The University continues
to honor its heritage of providing access to higher education for
under-represented populations, with a continuing commitment to African
Americans. Bowie State University remains a leader in the graduation of African Americans in teacher education and technological fields.top

Mission Statement:

Bowie State University, through the effective and efficient
management of its resources, provides high-quality and affordable
educational opportunities at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral
levels for a diverse student population of Maryland citizens and the
global community.

The educational programs are designed to broaden the knowledge
base and skill set of students across disciplines and to enable students
to think critically, value diversity, become effective leaders,
function competently in a highly technical world, and pursue advanced
graduate study.

The University is committed to increasing the number of
students from under-represented minorities who earn advanced degrees in
computer science, mathematics, information technology, and education.

President's Quote:

“Bowie State University celebrates its 145th anniversary as
Maryland’s oldest HBCU and one of the oldest in the nation. Today, we
take great pride in our history as we strive for excellence in education
and service. We continue to build on the milestones and accomplishments
which set the foundation for our progress—such as an increase in
enrollment over the past three years; the construction of a $21 million
Center for Business and Graduate Studies which completed in 2007; and a
new Fine and Performing Arts building, scheduled for completion in 2011.
We also launched the University’s largest-ever comprehensive
fundraising campaign in November 2008. So, with these and many more
accomplishments, we look forward to a bright future for Bowie State
University.”top

Major Accomplishments:

Bowie State University has received a National Science
Foundation (NSF) grant in the amount of $559, 994 tosupport the
establishment of a genomic training lab, the introduction of a new
course entitled Applied Biotechnology, an intensive summer training
course on the campus for undergraduate students selected from nearby
Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and high school
teachers from schools in Prince George’s County. The overall goal of the
award is to enhance minority participation in the Science, Technology,
Engineering and Math (STEM) disciplines by improving on minority
undergraduate students competitiveness in the biotechnology job market
and postgraduate education programs.

Bowie State University exceeded the state’s expectation of
25 percent for issuing contract awards to Minority Business Enterprises
(MBE) during 2008-2009. MBE awards were nearly 32 percent or
approximately $10.5 million of the University’s overall contracts.

The University was selected by the Legislative Black Caucus
of Maryland and the Governor’s Office of Minority Affairs to receive the
MBE Best Practices Award recognizing an agency for its consistent and
ongoing commitment to implement MBE best practices throughout the
organization.

The number of students who graduated from Bowie State in
fiscal year 2009 was 935 (613 received bachelor degrees, 300 received
master degrees and 22 received doctoral degrees).

Enrollment has increased over the past three years at Bowie
State; Fall 2009 (5,617); Fall 2008 (5,484); and Fall 2007 (5,404).
Ninety percent of BSU students are residents of the state of Maryland.

Bowie State’s Maryland Center was awarded a $1.1 million
grant by the Maryland State Department of Education to increase the
advanced math skills of more than 400 Prince George’s County students in
grades 5-9. The program will include a summer math camp and school-year
booster sessions.

Bowie State received a 2009 Council for Advancement and
Support of Education (CASE) WealthEngine Award for Educational
Fundraising.

The University’s College of Education initiated a
Principals’ Institute with $192,000 in federal funding secured by
Congressman Steny H. Hoyer. The institute features an 18-month
curriculum with daylong Saturday classes that will cover preparation for
principal certification for Prince George’s County elementary, middle
and high schools. The institute also will provide training in leadership
and advanced professional development.

The College of Business was re-accredited by the Association
of Collegiate Business Schools and Programs in 2009, for 10 more years.
The rigorous process examined academic programs and recognized the
University’s teaching excellence at the baccalaureate and graduate
level.

Construction of the University’s Center for Business and
Graduate Studies was completed in 2007. It’s a three-story $21 million,
66,000 gross square foot facility which houses the College of Business.

The College of Arts and Sciences is creating a program on
bioinformatics, a new academic field that creates data-base and
computational methods to accommodate the current explosion in biological
and genomic knowledge.

The University’s College of Professional Studies partnered with Comprehensive Behavioral Care(CompCare),
a managed behavioral health organization based in Tampa, Fla., to
provide eight Bowie State students with summer internships during summer
2009.

During fiscal year 2009, many improvements were made to
campus facilities, including installation of street lights at the campus
entrance and parking lots H and I, roof replacement for the Crawford
Science Building, roof and bleacher replacement for the Leonidas S.
James Physical Education Complex gymnasium, bathroom renovation in
Holmes Hall, updating classrooms to technology-equipped “smart
classrooms” in the Martin Luther King building, ceiling replacement and
floor replacement for the Special Collections Room in the Thurgood
Marshall Library, updating bathrooms in Harriet Tubman Hall, and
constructing a gate house on the Loop Road.

William Teel, 1989/1993 alum, founder, president and chief
executive officer for 1 Source Consulting, Inc. (recognized by Inc.
magazine as one of the nation's fastest growing private companies in
2006, Black Enterprise Magazine ranked the company as a top 100 African American-owned business in 2007)

Testimonials:

“I decided to get my master’s degree first, because I
wasn’t sure what area of communications I wanted to focus on . . . Bowie
State’s size belies its wealth of opportunities for graduate students
to expand their learning beyond the classroom . . I think that Bowie
State actually offers more opportunities because it is small . . .
There’s incredible interaction between students and faculty.”

Chevonne James
Student, Pedology

“Bowie State University has a very good reputation for
their education program, so when I transferred, BSU stood out as my
number one choice for education and a family-oriented environment . . .
My experience at BSU has been a unique and interesting one, transferring
from a predominantly white institution. BSU has become my home away
from home . . . The thing I like most about BSU is the connections and
relationships that I have made. Being an out of state student can be a
challenge, and my fellow Bulldogs have become a part of my family.”

Brandon McDonald
Student, Communications/Public Relations

“I really didn't choose Bowie State personally; it was my
mother who suggested the school to me during the recruitment process in
high school. She wanted me to get away from home but not too far. I
visited a lot of universities while I was in high school, but it only
took me one visit to Bowie State to realize that this school was the
right fit for me... My experience at Bowie State University has been
great. Looking back to my freshman year when I first enrolled into the
school, I have done nothing but grown. College can either make you or
break you my mother always told me, and Bowie State definitely made me
into a better overall person, and has prepared me for life…The
professors/faculty are very helpful in lectures and guiding you on the
right path to graduate. I like the campus environment because you cannot
get distracted with outside issues.”

Sudarat Tuntivivat
Alumnus, Master’s degree in Public Administration

"BSU offered me the multicultural experience I was looking
for, as well as as an outstanding academic program . . . I met
professors and students from India, South Korea, China, Nigeria and
Kenya. . . Bowie State offered me so many opportunities, as well as
wonderful mentors, friends, and memories. I encourage students from
every ethnicity to join the Bowie State family."